Guwahati: Dispur will distribute Rs 250 crore among 1 lakh women of Assam's self-help groups this month.
Assam panchayat and rural development minister Naba Kumar Doley said at the inauguration of Saras fair, organised by the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, here on Monday that every woman would get Rs 25,000 under the state Kanaklata self-help group scheme. The fair will conclude on December 22.
Saras fair is an initiative of the Union ministry of rural development to market rural products to provide an opportunity for income generation to self-help groups and rural artisans.
Doley said the fair was not only a platform for self-help groups to exhibit and sell their products and establish a market linkage but also to boost their confidence and encourage them to strive for better livelihood. He said the mission has been working towards poverty alleviation and capacity-building of rural women.
"The SHGs can work with the government for better living by connecting with the National Rural Livelihood Mission," he added.
A wide range of products crafted by rural artisans and self-help groups of 17 states, including Assam, are on display in about 100 stalls at the fair. These include ethnic food, handicrafts, handloom products, the mekhela sador - traditional dress of Assam, the dokhna - dress of the Bodos, muga silk and traditional Assamese jewellery.
The fair has handloom and handicraft products from Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, silk saris from the southern states, pearl and crystal work of Andhra Pradesh, jewellery of Goa, silver jewellery of Odisha as well as local food of different states.
The fair will hold interactive sessions, workshops related to entrepreneurship and personality development and cultural shows.